Door construction



W. GROSS.

DOOR CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION F| LED MAYI2,1920.

1,376,535. Paten ted May 3, 1921.

. Q cod UNITED STATES WILLIAM GROSS, OF SA'UK RAPIDS, MINNESOTA.

DOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed. May 12,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Gnoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saul: Rapids, in the county of Benton and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Constructions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to door construction and more particularly to a door capable of i being used at all seasons of the year.

An object of the invention is to provide a door structure of this character capable of standing rough usage and one which eliminates the use of wood.

Another object is to provide a door structure of this character capable of being used as a screen door in warm weather, and a storm door in cold or inclement weather.-

A further object of the invention is to provide a door of this character capable of being used in storehouses and like places where a fire proof door is necessary.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described and more fully claimed and illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section of a door constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means for holding a glass pane over the frame opening of the door, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the means shown in Fig. 3, holding a metal panel over the frame opening of the door.

Referrin to the drawings, A designates a door inclu ing stiles 6 and 7, a top rail 8 and a lower rail 9. These stiles and rails are formed from metal including a body portion 10 and side portions 11 and 12. The side portion 12 is extended back upon the body portion 10 and has its end extended in angular relation to the body portion 10 to provide a web 13, the web having its end portion extended in angular relation to said web to provide a flange 1 1. The flanges 14 of the stiles 6 and 7 and upper and lower rails 9 cofiperate to form a frame 15 over which various forms of closure members Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 380,836.

may be disposed according to the season of the year.

In warm weather, the door structure is converted into a screen door by use of screen fabric 16, which is disposed over the frame 15. In order to firmly secure the screen fabric to the frame and at the same time reinforce the frame to prevent saggin of the fabric, a combined reinforcing mem er and fastening frame 17 is provided, and con-' sists of a body member 18 having one end portion 19 extended back upon the portion 18 in spaced parallel relation thereto, the end portion 20 being extended in right angular relation to the portion 19 in spaced relation to the portion 18 and is adapted to engage the web 13. The end portion 21 is extended back upon the portion 18 in spaced parallel relation thereto and in the opposite direction to that of the portion 19. The end portion 22 of the portion 21 is extended in right angular relation to the portion 21 and in spaced relation to the member 18 and has its extremity disposed over the portion 19 in spaced parallel relation thereto. This fastening and reinforcing member is constructed in the form of a frame and is adapted to be disposed over the marginal edge of the screen fabric 16, the portion 19 engaging the inner surface of the frame 15 with its end portion 20 in engagement with the web 13. The member 18 is intended to engage the outer surface of the frame 15 while the screen fabric is disposed between the member 18, portions 21 and 22 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This reinforcing and fastening frame has its portion 19 and 20 split at the corners of said frame so as to permit the frame to be readily engaged with the frame 15. In addition to this the fastening frame 17 contains a certain amount of resiliency which stretches the screen fabric to the desired extent when the frame is being applied thereto and not only prevents the screen fabric from sagging but prevents the tension of the screen fabric on the frame 15 from distorting the same, as the portion 19 and 20 serves as reinforcing means.

In cold or stormy weather, this construction may be used as a storm door by removing the fastening frame 17 from the frame 15 together with the screen fabric 16 and substituting a pane of glass 23. The glass is placed in engagement with the edge of the frame 15 and is held in position by a suitable holding frame 24: consisting of a body member 25 having its end portion 26 extended back upon itself in parallel relation thereto. The end portion 27 is extended in angular relation to the body member 25. This holding member is disposed over the glass 23, the end portion 27 engaging the marginal edge of the glass while the body member 25 engages the outer surface of the frame 15. A cleat 28 is-pivoted to the lower rail 9 and upper rail 8, and is intended to engage the end portion 26 of the member 25 to hold the holding frame 24 in engagement with the frame 15. Should it be desired to use this construction as a fire proof door, the glass pane 23 can be removed and substituted by a metal plate 29.

If desired this construction can be extended the entire length of the door, or. may

occupy two-thirds of the length of the door and the other third could be formed into apanel 30 as this construction does not interfere with the design of the door.

An important feature of this device is that no securing means such as screws, nails, etc., are used in theconstruction of this door. The door is notonly constructed of metal, but every portion thereof constitutes a brace so that the door may be subjected to rough usage indefinitely without danger of breakage or damage to the door and as it is simple, it may be constructed from sheet metal.

What is claimed is 1. A door structure eomprlslng a frame having a central panel opening, the edges of said opening being extended at right angles to provide a support, a closure member engaged with said support, and a closure frame adapted to embrace said support, said closure member being L-shaped in cross section, and means carried by the door structure inwardly of the edges thereof and adapted to engage the outer surface of said closure member. 2. A door structure comprising a frame having a central panel opening, the edges of said opening being extended at right angles to one face of the door to provide a frame, a closure frame comprising a body member adapted to engage the base of the edges of said opening, said member then being extended in engagement with the inner surface of said edges, in one direction, and back upon itself in the opposite direction in en gagement with the outer surface of said edges, and then extended back upon itself again in spaced relation to the second mentioned extended portion to provide a compartment for the reception of a closure member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

WILLIAM GROSS. 

